A plan for a new regional transit system must keep the needs of local commuters at the front of the bus. The cities of St. Albert and Edmonton have given the go ahead to explore the concept of a regional commuter service and report back in September.
When commuters put money in the slot they want a convenient, reliable, affordable bus ride that will get them to work or school on time. And taxpayers want the best bang for their buck. Local commuters also need public transportation that does not take a backseat in the Edmonton Transit System.
Improved commuter transit could have a huge impact on the more than 20,000 St. Albertans who commute to work or school in Edmonton. A well-executed regional transit service could lure many commuters to the bus, taking cars off the road, and reducing commuter traffic and stress.
The regional transit plan must provide a viable plan to engage other communities in the capital region that also need a convenient and affordable commuter service. This could reduce duplication of transit service and maximize the potential for provincial and federal transportation grants. Ottawa shows stronger interest in funding opportunities that involve regional co-operation and meet regional rather than local needs.
Collaboration is the key to providing a service that improves service to commuters, reduces duplication, and draws maximum government dollars to accomplish those ends.
A well-conceived regional transit system could provide service to more communities with more starting points and destinations and more express routes. This could improve service and may reduce total costs. Commuters who have a regional transit option may happily leave their cars at home, relieving stress on local Park and Ride sites and reducing traffic into the Edmonton core.
The governance model for the commuter transit must also address regional interests without creating another layer of bureaucracy. The current concept is to create a third transit authority that would be in charge of inter-municipal commuting transit. Another option may be to carve out specific roles for existing Edmonton and regional transit services, rather than create another transit authority.
The number of commuters is already huge. Commuters make up nearly one-third of St. Albertans. In 2014 City of St. Albert statistics showed there were 17,322 workers and 2,905 students who travelled south to Edmonton every day.
Regional transit will need to be marketed to encourage more people to leave their vehicles at home. How many motorists know that the average 15-km commute to Edmonton may cost up to $18 return when you factor in the cost of vehicle, gas, and insurance? That doesn’t include the parking costs at destination or the stress of driving in rush hour traffic. Faced with those numbers regional transit may seem more affordable.
This is all a tall order for the regional transit committee that is just getting started. Any solution must reduce costs, get more people on the bus, and ensure a smoother ride.
